BUCKEYE LAKE - The Buckeye Lake police chief faces new restrictions after accidentally firing his gun one day after he had a finger amputated.

Chief James Hanzey had his right ring finger amputated Friday. The incident was not work related.

Hanzey informed Buckeye Lake Mayor Peggy Wells Saturday afternoon of his surgery and that he had returned home from the hospital, according to village records.

Hanzey, who has been the chief for nearly five years and with the department for more than 30 years, told Wells he had a letter from his doctor clearing him to return to light desk work. He said he would return Monday. Wells, however, said she did not clear the chief to return to work.

Hanzey responded to a call Saturday evening where he accidentally fired his gun in the Leisure Village area of Buckeye Lake.

Additional details about what transpired inside the private home have not been released. Sheriff Randy Thorp said his department was aware of a Buckeye Lake and Hebron Police response to a home in Leisure Village with regard to shots being fired.

Assistance from the sheriff's office was declined by the local authorities on the scene and no medical transports were made.

"You decided to respond to this call despite not having delivered your doctor's release and despite the fact that responding to reported violent felony is far from 'light duty'," Wells wrote in a letter given to Hanzey sometime after 11:15 a.m. Monday. "I have been made aware that, while responding to this call, you accidentally discharged a firearm inside a private dwelling."

During a phone call Saturday afternoon, Wells requested a copy of the doctor's note and advised Hanzey not to return to work until she consulted with the village attorney about Hanzey's return, according to village records.

The letter also states Hanzey is not to respond to calls, be on patrol, carry a firearm or operate a cruiser until he has been re-certified with a licensed firearms instructor and the accidental discharge is fully investigated. Hanzey refused to sign the letter.

Hanzey appeared at Monday's Village Council meeting with his attorney, Larry Arnold.

The accidental firearm discharge was never mentioned during the meeting.

At the meeting, Hanzey said he asked Wells to provide a written copy of the original request to not return to work when he provided his release from the doctor. Hanzey said he and Wells agreed to have the letters to each other Monday morning.

When Hanzey dropped off the doctor's note in Wells' mailbox at 7:30 a.m. Monday, the written notice he requested was not in his mailbox. Because of that, he returned to work to do payroll and other duties, Hanzey said during the meeting.

"Just because I got my ring finger taken off doesn't mean that I can't do administrative duties until my hand completely heals," he said. "I have no issues shooting a gun. The ring finger doesn't affect me from shooting and holding my weapon."

Hanzey added that he is ambidextrous and can shoot with either hand.

Hanzey said he understands the village wants the medical release from the doctor, and to make sure he is not on any pain killers that would impact his driving or ability to think clearly. Hanzey said he did not fill the prescription for pain killers and he is only on antibiotics.

"I just want to come back and work," he said.

Wells said during the meeting she did not want to discuss a personnel matter in a public forum, but Hanzey was free to share his side of the story.

Wells said after the meeting office staff members were not aware Hanzey had placed the note from the doctor in Wells' mailbox Monday morning.

Wells said she consulted with an attorney Monday, resulting in the letter Hanzey was given sometime after 11:15 a.m.

But Hanzey did not have approval to return to work Monday.

"He kind of made up his own rules," she said. "He changed the rules of his return to work. He didn't have my approval or our attorney's approval to come back to work."

Wells said Hanzey hasn't been approved to return because of the village's concern for Hanzey's well-being and the well-being of village residents.